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Using a design professional can be a positive and fun experience!Getting over Fear: Many consumers are somewhat intimidated by the thought of hiring an interior decorator. They worry they'll lose control of the design, or the budget, and that the finished project may not be to their liking. But it doesnít have to be that way. Your designer should be receptive to your needs, likes, dislikes and suggestions. Honest and open communication between designer and client is imperative to a successful end. Choosing to work with a designer to guide you through the world of design, decorating and home renovations is a wise and worthwhile investment.

Advantages of hiring a professional:

Expertise: Interior decorators help you achieve the look you desire in your home by assisting you with choosing colors, prints, textures, furnishings, and even dealing with space issues. We believe that our designs are not only appealing, but are practical. We consider your lifestyle and we know that our products will enhance your home in a decorative manner, but they must also be functional for you and your family. Interior decorating is not just "having an eye" for color or recognizing quality furniture. It is an extensive discipline that encompasses many specialized areas of expertise, including:

Colors and how they relate to one another.

Patterns and how they relate to one another.

Human perception of space, depth, and texture.

Compatibility of styles.

Designer Sources: Since 1989, Echelon Interiors has developed relationships with only the best sources and we now have over 100 wholesale accounts with fabric vendors, professional custom workrooms, furniture and rug manufacturers, flooring distributors and many more. We also work with many local people such as artists, furniture designers, faux finishers, painters, upholsterers, etc

How Decorators Charge: While it varies from decorator to decorator, and job to job, decorators usually get most of their compensation through commissions or discounts they negotiate with vendors of products and services. In other words, most of their compensation comes from suppliers, not from you. In many cases, it is also necessary for the decorator to charge a consulting fee. This is usually assessed on an hourly basis or as a flat fee.

Echelon Interiors purchases our products at wholesale prices which enables us to charge you a regular retail price for each item you order. Therefore, you are not paying an inflated price, or a fee for our time.

Your designer won't be able to create the perfect room for you unless you are able to communicate just what you want. You might want to accumulate photos from magazines of rooms and furniture you like since this will give your designer a place to start in creating a design specifically for you.

Describe Your Vision: Be able to explain to your designer the style you want, the colors you like, and the activities that will take place in the room. Make a list of furniture you own that you want to keep. Think about your preferences for furniture, fabrics, materials, and patterns.

Decide on a budget: No one likes sticking to a budget, but everyone has one. Your designer will help you develop a master plan and budget, but if you would like to be prepared with a budget before meeting with a designer there are some things you can do.

Make a list of the things you are considering and write down a low, medium and high dollar figure after each item. The example below is for a Living Room where the client needs a rug, a sofa, a cocktail table and a window treatment. This client will have a budget between 3,800 and 17,600 with a median budget of 8,300.

Example: Low Medium High

9 x 13 Wool Rug 3,200 4,800 10,000

Sofa 2,200 3,000 8,000

Cocktail Table 800 1,500 4,500

Window Treatment 1,000 4,000 9,000

You can understand how helpful it would be for the designer to have an idea of how much you are wanting to spend. It will really help her to know what to show you. The designer canít assume that you want the low budget items. It may seem insulting to you for her to assume that. On the other hand, if she assumes you have a medium or high end budget and spends several hours showing you fabrics and designs that you fall in love with, only to find out that she exceeded the amount you were thinking about. By then, it is difficult to look at the less expensive items and get excited about them, so you and the designer end up frustrated.

In our sample, the high end prices would supply the client with a hand knotted wool or silk rug, a sofa made with rich fabrics and down pillows with fringes and trims, an heirloom quality cocktail table and a full window treatment with an operable austrian shades or roman shades, velvet or silk draperies with trims, fringes and tassels and 3" antique gold decorative rods.

Working with a professional can give your home beauty and function within your budget. A designer can actually save you money in many situations by allocating resources wisely and eliminating decorating mistakes.

So... the key is to be realistic. Plan a project with goals and phase-in purchases over a few months or years if necessary. Donít forget that we offer 12 months interest free financing which might help you get everything you want right away. Another option is for us to provide you with a master plan and help you break it up into phases.

A number of basic design styles apply to everything from furniture to interior and exterior home design.

Here are some general guidelines for design styles:

Contemporary/modern design: Features sleek, unadorned cabinets, plain panel doors and hardware that's hidden or unobtrusive. Furniture and window treatments have clean lines and a more tailored effect. Traditional More formal and elegant. Raised panel cabinet doors or clear glass panels separated by thin strips of wood are often seen. Rich wood finishes or painted white wood may be accented with antique gold or oil rubbed bronze hardware. Furniture styles are more ornate with curved lines and hand carvings. You may also see marble tops on tables and chests. The window treatments styles may be created out of silks and velvets and adorned with trims and tassels.

Country: Features light stain or distressed-color finish, simple cabinet and door styles and unpretentious wood or ceramic knobs and handles. Furniture and window treatments styles may feature ruffles, checks, plaids and small prints. A French Country look may incorporate a toille fabric and English Country would include colorful florals printed on polished cottons.

Southwestern: Homes favor stucco or adobe exteriors and orange or red tile roofs. Furniture and window treatments styles are more contemporary with clean lines, but with a rustic feel.Victorian: Styles often reflect the romance of the 19th century with contemporary convenience. Common cabinet woods are oak or cherry and with the right color scheme, even white can be used. Many different types of hardware work, from hammered iron to antique pewter. Furniture styles would be more traditional with a county feeling and window treatment styles might include lace and may have several layers of different fabrics.

Working With a Design Professional | Preparing to work with a Designer | Design styles